Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart found the new Perth Stadium "very impressive," noting no leaks or unpleasant odors in the change rooms.
"Very impressive." That's Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart's first impressions of the new Perth Stadium.
Raiders need to beat Souths to end four-game losing streak
Vegas 'without the elevator': Raiders eye revival as Savage injury revealed
Xavier Savage is sidelined for eight weeks, while the Raiders hope to revive their season during an important game in Perth.
Xavier Savage will spend up to eight weeks on the sideline with a syndesmosis injury, so while the Canberra Raiders are searching for something to turn their season around, Hudson Young figures they could use a flight to Perth "as our little Vegas trip ... without the elevator stuff."
Wind back a little more than 12 months. Young and teammate Morgan Smithies wandered across a road to a waiting media pack after the pair had been involved in a scuffle inside an elevator in Las Vegas, where an inflatable baseball bat had been mistaken by hotel staff for a weapon.
It was the story that lit the fuse for the rugby league media cycle, even if it was a mountain made out of a molehill in the Nevada desert. And, to a degree, it galvanised the Raiders and kickstarted their run to the club's first minor premiership in 35 years.
Which brings us to Perth, where the Raiders have touched down, ticked off a selfie with a quokka on Rottnest Island, and turned their attention to fixing a 1-4 start to the season which has them sitting 16th on the ladder.
'Proud of him': Bennett lauds Smith for tackling demons
Brandon Smith returns to play for South Sydney after rehab, addressing alcohol and gambling issues, with Wayne Bennett praising his turnaround.
Wayne Bennett has paid tribute to Brandon Smith for turning his life around as the South Sydney hooker gets ready to take the field for the first time since entering a rehab facility.
Smith, who missed the first five rounds of the Rabbitohs' season with a calf injury, is named to start in the No.9 jersey against reigning minor premiers Canberra at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday.
The 29-year-old Smith has been working on more than just his recovery over recent months, revealing how he had entered a treatment facility to tackle issues relating to alcohol and gambling.
The New Zealand Test hooker realised he needed to make a change to his life after he was stopped at an airport and charged by Queensland Police last year over allegations he supplied dangerous drugs and disclosed inside knowledge for betting purposes.
